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Bolivia to send medicine, blood, food to Haiti

LA PAZ, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Bolivian government will send 11 tons of medicine, blood and food, as well as 20 doctors specialized in natural disaster to quake-hit Haiti, Bolivian Health Minister Ramiro Tapia said on Friday.

Tapia said that to the moment Bolivia has collected more than 500 units of blood to be sent to Haiti, a country that was devastated on Tuesday by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake.

Tapia said that the blood collection work will be done by Saturday, and it is expected to collect some 800 units of blood.

"Everybody has been affected by the tragic situation that Haitian people are living and we cannot be indifferent," Tapia said.

The Bolivian Health Ministry began a blood donation campaign on Thursday.

"We are coordinating for our aid to be effective, but we have extra will and solidarity and we will be immediately collaborating with our brothers of Haiti," Tapia added.

The humanitarian aids to be sent to Haiti include five tons of medicine, five tons of food and 1 ton of blood plasma as well as the equipments to preserve blood in good condition.

The Haitian authorities estimate that there are at least 100,000 deaths and 3 million victims caused by the devastating earthquake.

On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti and devastated the capital city, Port-au-Prince. Reportedly more than 150,000 people were killed and buried later in mass graves, although the exact number was difficult to determine and the reported number fluctuates, and a large number are homeless.The Presidential palace, Parliament and many other important structures were destroyed, along with countless homes and businesses